envr 1000 - unit 5, forestry and conservation of biodiversity, pt 2

preservation

maintenance of a natural area/species in a pristine or
unaltered state

preservation ex

Pimachiowin Aki protected area, in Manitoba and Ontario

conservation

caring for and maintaining natural habitat/species
- Recognized to have intrinsic value

Conservation biology

scientific discipline focusing on understanding
factors, forces and processes that influence the loss, protection and
restoration of biological diversity

what does conservation biology assess

• Genetic diversity
  - Ecosystem diversity
  - Species diversity

carrying capacity (K)

the largest
population a particular environment
can support long term if there are
no changes in that environment

Minimum viable population (MVP)

the smallest possible size of a biological
population that can viably exist without
the threat of extinction

how is MVP different than carrying capacity?

• MVP = min. population size that can survive
  - K = max. population size that can survive
  - But MVP is governed by species-level
  factors; K is governed by environmental
  factors (example: food availability)

how is MVP used?

it’s used by conservation biologists to
assess how a species is doing – nearing
extinction, expanding populations,
bouncing back, etc.

Habitat fragmentation

the break-up of large zones of
habitat into small, unconnected, isolated patches or
“islands”
- “Islands” in the sense of isolated habitat surrounded by
an expanse of unsuitable habitat

what does habitat fragmentation cause?

population fragmentation, declining ecosystem
health

what is habitat fragmentation a threat to?

long-term survival of species

causes of habitat frgamentation?

human development such as:

• Highway and roads
  - Urban sprawl
  - Agriculture
  - Oil and gas development

Conservation corridors

restoring
landscape connectivity for animals –
“bridges” between “islands”

purpose of conservation corridors?

• Seasonal migration
  - Seeking food and water
  - Access to mates

ex of conservation corridors

wildlife crossings

what caused conflict between humans and mountain gorillas

human development

where did mountain gorillas go

higher, colder areas of mountains, threatening their survival

what happened to mountain gorillas?

they were pulled from the brink of extinction due to conservation efforts

national parks

• Parks and their resources are protected by federal
  legislation
  - Mining, forestry, agriculture, hunting are prohibited
  - Ecological integrity and ecosystem health are maintained using
  the ecosystem management approach
  - Preserving overall structure and function
  - Native plant and animal species able to live, thrive, maintain
  long-term viability

ex of national parks

• Banff National Park, Alberta
  • Riding Mountain National Park, Manitoba
  • Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland

provincial parks

Administered provincially by agencies usually found within government
departments managing natural resources, tourism or culture — similar structure and purpose to national parks

wilderness area

a protected area of land in which no human development is permitted

ex of wilderness area

Namibia, in southwestern Africa, contains multiple
ecosystems; from floodplains to savannas and deserts
- These ecosystems contain habitats for many threatened or
endangered animals, including lions, rhinoceroses, elephants

% of protected area

15.4%

why are parks and reserves created

• Awe-inspiring beauty of many large unusual
  environmental features inspires people to
  protect or preserve them
  - An impulse termed “monumentalism”
  - e.g., the Rocky Mountains, Clayoquot Sound,
  Amazon Rainforest
  • Offers recreational value to tourists, hikers,
  campers, fishers, hunters
  • Offers useful ecosystem services like drinking
  water supply, water retention to prevent
  flooding, habitat for vulnerable species

Ecological restoration

enhancing the
“naturalness” of parks through restoring
native plant and animal communities

ecological restoration purpose?

• Removal of invasive species
  - Teardown of old buildings + land reclamation
  - Restoration of wetlands and native species
  - Improving overall ecosystem health

Invasive species

a foreign species that spreads rapidly in a new area

amount of invasive species in canada?

1500, fish, animals, insects

effects of invasive species in forests?

damages ecosystem health, forestry
industry

ex of invasive species

Ballast water in cargo-carrying ships -> zebra mussel infestationh

how are invasive species introduced?

sometimes by natural means, mostly by human activity

are invasive species reversible?

mostly not

is prevention or reaction cheaper?

prevention

invasive species management methods?

• chemical control

• biological control

• mechanical control

chemical control

pesticides

biological control

a native organism is brought into the problem area to reduce or eliminate the invasive species

mechanical control

putting up physical barriers to prevent spreade

ex of mechanical control

impermeable containment curtains installed in Clear Lake, summer 2024

what is biological control?

Battling invasive species or
native pests with organisms that eat or infect
them (using a pest’s natural predators)

issues of biological control?

• No one can predict the unintended effects of an
  introduced species
  - The agent may have “non-target” effects on the
  environment and surrounding economies
  - Removing a biocontrol agent is harder than halting
  pesticide use

ex of biological control

introduction of cactus moth to wipe out invasive prickly pear cactus in Australia